Looking up...
struggle
/ˈstɹʌɡəl/
make forceful efforts
She struggled to open the heavy door.
She made great efforts to open the door despite resistance.
general
to make forceful or violent efforts; to strive against difficulty or opposition
The prisoner struggled against his captors.
The prisoner made violent efforts to escape despite being held.
He struggled to keep up with the pace of the class.
He worked hard but found it difficult to match the class's speed.
Often implies physical or emotional effort in overcoming resistance or challenge.
general
a hard and difficult time; a fight or conflict
The country's struggle for independence lasted decades.
The nation fought for freedom over many years.
Her daily struggle with depression was invisible to others.
She endured silent, ongoing emotional hardship.
Can refer to collective efforts (e.g., social movements) or personal challenges.
Collocations
struggle withhave difficulty dealing withlife struggleongoing hardship in lifeclass struggleMarxist term for conflict between social classes
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'struggle'
While versatile, 'struggle' can sound dramatic. In casual contexts, use simpler verbs like 'try' or 'have trouble' unless the difficulty is genuinely intense.
Gold Rule
Match 'struggle' with effort against resistance
Use 'struggle' when the subject faces active opposition or difficulty, not for neutral challenges. Compare: 'She struggled to lift the box' (resistance) vs. 'She lifted the box' (neutral action).
Word Origin
From Middle English *struglen*, from Old English *strūgan* (to struggle, writhe), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch *struggelen* and German *strampeln*. The noun sense emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Used for both physical and metaphorical efforts. Often implies prolonged or intense effort against resistance. In modern usage, can also describe internal or emotional conflict (e.g., 'struggle with anxiety').
Word Breakdown
struggle
effort against difficulty
rootEnglish Dictionary